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118 AC

Qohor

Daeron Nymeros Martell

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"Kill them all, every last one." Rhaenyra ruthlessly commands as she stares down at the captured nobles who are begging for their lives.

"They deserve worse than a quick death..." Daemon throws in his own two cents from the side as he darkly looks toward the panicking nobles.

I find myself agreeing with him despite my lingering annoyance from him setting a large part of the Great Grass Sea ablaze.

Turning my head to look toward the Black Goat statue, I feel a deep pit form in my stomach.

Children, dozens of them... cut open and offered to a foul goat god.

The worst part?

Most are actually the noble's children, they sacrifice their own flesh and blood... for nothing.

Never in a million years.

I would kill myself before I purposefully killed my own child.

"I can't find it in myself to be even slightly happy about this city's capture." I speak aloud as the screams of the scum echo.

I mean, I get that we ourselves have no doubt killed children during our conquest.

In the black walls of Volantis alone, I know we killed dozens at minimum, probably hundreds if not far more.

It is not something that makes me happy, but I know for a fact we will have a far easier time establishing our rule over Volantis and its surrounding settlements due to the lack of former leadership.

These poor souls died at the hands of their own parents, for nothing.

At least when I go to bed at night, I can tell myself the people who died at my hand, did so that a better future could be forged.

It's a weak excuse, I am aware.

But it's something, it's enough for me to look forward toward a brighter future.

These people have nothing, only empty hopes, and false prayers, the blood of their own children on their hands.

I couldn't fathom putting myself in their shoes, trusting a God to defend me that requires me to kill my own offspring.

"We should work swiftly to bring about the end of the Black Goat... I would rather any religion other than this one, even the fanatical Red Gods people are better." Rhaenyra does not look away from the slaughter, but she nods once letting me know she heard me.

The Red Priests burn mostly small offerings, time to time they burn people alive but it's usually during a crisis like drought or famine... or war.

I dislike them, but I don't hate them like I hate the Black Goat, and I refuse to go out of my way to spread the faith of the seven. Ideally, one religion will grow in power here in Essos under Targaryen rule, to act as a counterweight to the Faith of the Seven. Then in the future, it would be possible to use one against the other to get things done without it being blamed on the Royal House.

One day maybe this will be a problem, someone down the line will have to stop holy wars most likely.

But with House Targaryen having dragons, and dragons being fire-made flesh... it's easy to see which one my descendants will support.

I will write some notes or something to be passed down from Ruler to Ruler, maybe one day someone of my line could ally with the Red Faith. They can force the issue and have the Red Faith name them the 'Grand Holy Priest' or something that will make them a cultural icon. Ideally, they could work out a deal to make it so that title passes from one ruler to the next, permanently bringing power to the crown in a way that the crown has never before had.

Shaking my head I clear those thoughts, it's far too soon to be thinking about something like that.

I take a moment longer with my gaze upon the grizzly sight of the butchered children.

Sorry, this happened to you... I will do my best to end the God that you got sacrificed to.

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118 AC

Norvos

Lewyn Nymeros Martell

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Well, this was easy.

Standing on the balcony of my personal room in a grand palace overlooking Norvos, I feel strangely... confused.

I flew here ahead of half of our army, to offer Norvos a chance to surrender.

They agreed.

I... no, no one expected them to agree.

It was just a courtesy, mainly so people would not claim us all mad and cruel.

But... they just agreed on the spot, all they asked for was some basic concessions.

They want to keep their bells.

I am confident that Rhaenyra would agree to let them keep their normal way of life, minus the slaves.

It's a strange way of life, but not necessarily a bad way of life.

The bells dictate their lives.

They ring when it's time to wake up.

They ring when it's time to eat.

They ring when it's time to work.

They even ring when it's time to fuck.

This place... I don't want to stay here long, but I am glad that we seemingly won't have to burn anything down.

I am not against what we have done thus far in our conquest of new lands.

But personally, I would rather everyone just roll onto their backs and expose their belly like Norvos has.

Some would say they are cowards.

I say they have felt which way the wind is blowing, and bent the knee just in time to prevent unnecessary deaths.

This city was going to fall, that's just a fact.

By bending the knee, I am willing to bet on them having the easiest time transitioning to Targaryen rule and also likely will get some other benefits when time comes for the Queen to fly over and meet with those of importance.

"Hmmm..." Pursing my lips as I watch people go about their day as the bells ring loudly throughout the city, I find myself growing a bit curious.

Will Lorath and Braavos also bend the knee like Norvos has?

I doubt Braavos will, but that's not for me to worry about anyway.

Braavos won't be messed with anytime soon, long-term plans are being put in motion and will take time to show any results.

Lorath though... I remember Daeron speaking about how it's the least important Free City, but it's still a Free City.

One of the trueborn children of Old Valyria, unlike Braavos who is considered a bastard.

It would look better for Lorath to also be brought into the fold sooner rather than later.

Leaving Braavos as the last one untouched would put more pressure on them as well, making it easier to passively pressure them.

If we did go ahead and conquer Lorath, Rhaenyra could have all of the Free Cities we claimed to reduce trade with Braavos. If Westeros traders also do the same as well, it would rapidly drain the economy of Braavos. The city on the rocks survives off of trade, they might have some farmland surrounding their city but it's not enough to support the entire population.

I know for a fact they have no lumber, they get it all from trade.

If a winter struck any time soon... and they could not get wood?

The Titan would bend, or it would go to war to claim new lands to supply itself with what it needs to keep its people alive.

Either way, we would win in the end.

Grabbing my wineskin from my side, I bring it to my mouth and savor the Dark Dornish Red.